The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

A scene that could only be described as a vision of hell spread across the 24th floor.

It was the 5th day of conquering the sand dungeon.

Inside the labyrinth, we never knew when enemies might come from behind. In normal circumstances, this might be a situation stressful enough to make one go bald, but thanks to the map we happened to obtain and the large amount of food and water stored in our item boxes, we were able to live a relatively comfortable dungeon life.

As we progressed through the floors, the dungeon became a demon realm where only A-rank monsters roamed freely.

Although there were some hair-raising moments up to this point, we managed to conquer it without any major injuries.

This was all thanks to the super-enhanced Seori and the Punisuke Armor.

"Well, this is the last one."

While collecting the materials from the basilisk we had defeated without much trouble, I gazed at the stairs that appeared beyond the door.

Saturn's assassins never came.

They must think we're a mystical arts user who's lost his mystical arts and a dragon species that's not well-suited for dungeons. I had hoped they would underestimate us and let their guard down, but that expectation ends here.

"M-Master... It's kind of scary..."

"Yeah. I can smell blood."

Seori was trembling as she looked up the stairs to the upper floor—the 24th floor.

The suffocating smell of blood was noticeable even from here.

The atmosphere was clearly different from the previous floors. A dense aura of death was wafting through.

I donned Punisuke, ready to start combat at any moment, and kept Seori in her super-enhanced standby mode. We slowly climbed the stairs and carefully opened the door to peek inside.

...To put it plainly, it was a scene from hell.

The 24th floor, like the 30th floor, was just one huge boss room. I don't know what kind of monster usually resides here, but now there wasn't a single monster.

What was there were dozens of demons... or rather, what was left of them.

Blood and chunks of flesh were splattered on the floor, walls, and ceiling.

Dismembered corpses were scattered everywhere, with hardly any remaining in their original form. The only identifiable ones were three bodies piled up in the center of the room.

They seemed to be the men who were like Saturn's Four Heavenly Kings.

Standing next to these men's corpses was Nagi, with her sword drawn.

Her eyes were dark and stagnant, wandering vacantly.

The blood caked not only on her sword but also on her face and hands clearly told who was responsible for this gruesome scene.

"...You've finally come."

Noticing us entering the room, Nagi slowly stepped down from the corpses. As usual, her expression was unreadable.

I decided to greet her anyway.

"Hey Nagi, long time no see. Looks like you've been quite wild."

"Ruruk, I'm surprised you survived those wounds. Your bad luck must be strong."

She returned my light greeting with a venomous remark.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"The gods just won't let me die. Thanks to that, I got to see cute Nagi again, so I'm grateful."

"I want to sew that frivolous mouth shut. Preferably forever."

"If you did that, I wouldn't be able to engage in witty banter anymore."

"Don't you mean annoying banter?"

Nagi and I glared at each other while maintaining our distance. She didn't seem inclined to close in.

If we can talk, that's for the best. I don't particularly want to fight Nagi, after all.

I looked around once more at the scene of piled corpses and asked.

"What's the situation here?"

"I deceived Saturn. I infiltrated the room as one of the ambushers to kill Ruruk—and just now, I slaughtered everyone."

A black flame flickered in Nagi's eyes.

She had said that all of Saturn's associates were targets for her revenge. Saturn probably didn't think that a low-level demon who couldn't use magic would attempt something so reckless against this many opponents.

Still, three of the Four Heavenly Kings were among them. It must have been overwhelming odds.

"How did you manage to win unscathed?"

"My left arm and right leg were blown off once each. I regenerated thanks to my brother."

"Regeneration? Did you have an Elixir or something?"

"I don't know what an 'elixir' is... but it's the Sage's Secret Medicine."

Saying this, Nagi pulled out something like a jewel that was hanging from her neck. Inside the jewel was what appeared to be a liquid, glowing a faint red.

I knew she always had something like a necklace around her neck, but apparently, she had been hiding an incredible item like an Elixir. Come to think of it, accessories could be equipped, couldn't they.

She has high-rarity equipment, both weapons and accessories. Putting aside the cursed weapon, it seems she was truly loved by her brother.

"But is it okay? Telling me about that. I might try to take it from you, you know."

"Without even being able to use mystical arts? Has your stupidity reached that level?"

"Well, they say it's a fine line. I guess it can't be helped if you misunderstand like that."

"You're so stupid you don't even know how thick paper is."

Hey hey, your sharp tongue is in top form.

But what's strange is that Nagi was just talking, showing no signs of movement. She hasn't sheathed her sword, so she must still be on guard, but...

"Aren't you going to fight? Weren't you waiting to kill me?"

"Impatient men aren't popular. Especially with experienced partners, even if they might fool children."

"Stop, that one actually hurts."

She hit a sore spot. I take 100 million damage.

Nagi continued in her cold tone.

"Besides, Nagi came to talk."

"...Talk?"

"Yes. Why did you lie?"

Nagi glared at me, as if trying to discern my true intentions.

"Lie? I'm a man who has never told a lie in his life."

"...I hate that about Ruruk."

"Okay, okay. So, what lie? Which one are you talking about?"

"The lie about killing my brother."

Nagi said clearly.

Did she realize that I actually hadn't done it, or had she known from the start and was just acting? No, she couldn't have known. At that time, Nagi truly intended to kill me.

I shrugged my shoulders again.

"What are you talking about?"

"Playing dumb is useless. Nagi spent the final moments with my brother until his burial. At first, I hated Ruruk so much. I wanted nothing more than to chase you down and kill you with my own hands. Honestly, I still want to kill you... even now that I know you were lying, for hiding my brother."

"So why do you say I lied?"

"Nagi isn't stupid like Ruruk. Just by looking at the wounds, I can tell he was killed by an acid spell—a mixture of darkness and water magic—from behind. Ruruk has magic deficiency... it's absolutely impossible that it was only Ruruk."

So that's how it was.

I had never paid attention to the cause of her brother's death. Leaving aside whether I'm stupid or not, Nagi is a clever girl who can make calm judgments even in the midst of hatred. I can understand that.

"Besides, Nagi knows. My brother was always looking for a way to escape from Saturn. Because he never knew when he might become an enemy, he told Nagi about Saturn's close aides... including the abilities and magic of the strongest aide, the 'Shadow King'. My brother went out with that 'Shadow King'... and if that's the cause of my brother's death, Nagi can't be mistaken."

"...I see."

"Why? Why did Ruruk lie to Nagi? Knowing you might be killed, why did you say something that seemed to protect the 'Shadow King'—Saturn's subordinate?"

What Nagi was expressing was clear anger.

Of course she wouldn't understand. Just as I had underestimated Nagi's knowledge and judgment, Nagi can't see through my thoughts either. Our acquaintance isn't long enough for that.

But that's precisely why.

I laughed through my nose.

"Well, it's because I have a bad personality. I just wanted to see Nagi getting worked up trying to kill me. I just wanted to tease you."

"That's another lie. What's your goal in trying to make yourself hated like this?"

"How do you know it's a lie? What do you know about me? Don't you think I'm a scumbag? Weren't you the one who said I was frivolous, a liar, and good-for-nothing?"

"...That's true, but..."

"Hah. Then you should just accept it honestly. You're smarter than me, right? But I don't need smart women. I was only being nice to you at first because I thought you were a weak-minded woman, you idiot. I was only cooperating because I thought you'd be easily fooled and become attached to me. I only like people who like me. If you understand, get out of my sight. I have business with Saturn, I don't have time to bother with Nagi."

As I showered her with words like an avalanche, Nagi's eyes widened and she clenched her fists.

Trembling with anger, she growled as if squeezing out the words.

"...You're... the worst...!"

"That's right. I'm Ruruk, the worst man. Next time we meet, become a woman with a good figure that suits my taste. Then I'll be nice to you again."

"I'll ki—"

Just as Nagi was about to put strength into her hand gripping the sword, it happened.

Seori, who had been silent until now, stood between me and Nagi.

"That's not true! Master isn't the worst! Master was just worried about you!"

"Eh, wait, Seo—"

"It's true that Master is stupid! But he's kind, he was just worried! He knew you were planning to die after completing your revenge, so Master deliberately tried to make himself hated! He thought that if he wasn't killed, you would have a goal and wouldn't die, so he lied!"

"Hold on, hold on! Wait, Seori! What are you say—"

"Master, be quiet!"

I was scolded in the strongest tone ever by my usually obedient familiar.

"You don't know anything! Master was kind to you, and yet, don't speak ill of Master!"

"...Ruruk. Is that story... true...?"

Nagi stared at me with wide eyes.

Wait a minute. What is this embarrassing play? How much did you think I was acting, trying to be the bad guy? Well, I did enjoy saying those nasty things quite a bit.

Well, it's my fault for forgetting that Seori is too pure to read the atmosphere...

"Ruruk... really for Nagi's sake?"

"That's right! Because Master is tsundere!"

"Tsundere? But Ruruk was hiding my brother's corpse..."

"He just didn't know! Master always says it's troublesome, but if it really was troublesome, he wouldn't have brought the corpse of someone who was an enemy! He wouldn't give potions to passing demons while saying he's abandoning them! And, and—"

"Stop it, Seori! Please, no more! My life points are already at zero!"

Faced with this unexpected follow-up from my familiar, I covered my face in embarrassment and said,

"...Nagi, please kill me quickly."

"Nagi isn't stupid enough to kill you for this."

Nagi sighed.

"If that's the case, you should have said so. It's true that Nagi was planning to die after killing Saturn, but"

"...So you tried to make yourself hated to avoid that, huh"

"I didn't ask for that."

Nagi said firmly.

I knew from the beginning. Nagi's goal was only revenge, everything else was just a side road. She had been saying through her words, attitude, and way of life that she wasn't thinking about anything after achieving her revenge.

If that wasn't the case, she wouldn't be able to keep killing so mercilessly without going insane.

"Did you feel sorry for Nagi? Because I'm a woman? Or because we're both defective? Did you intend to prolong my life by giving me an excuse called revenge, to make me suffer even more? That kind of thing is unnecessary meddling. It's true that Ruruk might be a kind and good companion for Seori. But for Nagi, that kind of thing... that kind of lie is crueler than the truth."

"...I see. You're right, I'm sorry."

"I don't want you to apologize. It makes Nagi seem like a selfish woman who can't accept kindness."

"Then I'm a selfish man pushing my self-satisfaction onto others, huh."

"Well, that's true."

"Hey, you're supposed to deny that."

I smiled bitterly.

Nagi fell silent for a moment as if thinking, then turned her back to me.

The misunderstanding or misconception has been cleared up, and she probably won't try to take my life anymore... but well, as expected, it didn't lead to a good result.

Seori probably said what she did with good intentions, so I can't bring myself to blame her.

To begin with, not wanting Nagi to die was just my own ego.

It wasn't for anyone else. It was for me. I had no right to say anything, only to be blamed.

Nagi muttered under her breath.

"...Either way, Nagi will die once Saturn is killed."

Her voice was so small that we could barely hear it.

Nagi took a deep breath, then turned back and looked up with murderous intent.

"Then I'll go to kill Saturn. He should be off guard now... Can Ruruk fight?"

"Yeah. As you can see, I have this slime armor."

"...Slime? Is it strong?"

"You can look forward to it."

Still, I wonder how effective it will be against Saturn.

From what I remember seeing at first, Saturn had not only magic but also a wealth of skills. Since he has "Sand Dust Grasp," it would be quite difficult to defeat him if we end up in the desert, so I'd like to finish him off quickly inside the dungeon if possible...

"The problem is, how do we fight?"

"Nagi will kill him even if it means mutual destruction."

"That's the last resort. He's already at max level, so if he escapes, we probably won't be able to catch up. I'd like Nagi to be our trump card if possible."

"Then what should we do?"

Let's see.

I look alternately at Nagi and Seori. Super-enhanced Seori would probably exceed Saturn's status, but the fact that her attack method is close-range could be a problem. I want Seori to be able to fire a one-hit kill breath attack at any time...

"Come to think of it, Nagi, you volunteered for the ambush team, right? Did you hear how the force to defeat us was organized?"

"That hysterical woman's aides except for her and the 2nd to 6th units gathered in this room. I heard the rest were positioned as usual... Have you thought of something?"

"A little. By the way, has the outer wall of the upper dungeon that Seori destroyed been repaired yet?"

"Not yet. Since sand can be called in from outside, we'd have a tough fight unless we catch him off guard..."

"I see. Then that's perfect."

I grinned.

To Nagi, who looked puzzled, I said:

"Nagi, Seori. I have a favor to ask of you two."

"What is it?"

"Could you escape from this castle once?"